Forms Of Glomerulonephritis Research Articles

Long-term outcomes of patients with end-stage kidney disease due to membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: an ANZDATA registry study

BackgroundMembranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is an uncommon cause of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) and the clinical outcomes of patients with MPGN who commence kidney replacement therapy have not been comprehensively studied.MethodsAll adult patients with ESKD due to glomerulonephritis commencing kidney replacement therapy in Australia and New Zealand from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2016 were reviewed. Patients with ESKD due to MPGN were compared to patients with other forms of glomerulonephritis. Patient survival on dialysis and following kidney transplantation, kidney recovery on dialysis, time to transplantation, allograft survival, death-censored allograft survival and disease recurrence post-transplant were compared between the two groups using Kaplan Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsOf 56,481 patients included, 456 (0.8%) had MPGN and 12,660 (22.4%) had another form of glomerulonephritis. Five-year patient survival on dialysis and following kidney transplantation were similar between patients with ESKD from MPGN and other forms of glomerulonephritis (Dialysis: 59% vs. 62% p = 0.61; Transplant: 93% vs. 93%, p = 0.49). Compared to patients with other forms of glomerulonephritis, patients with MPGN had significantly poorer 5-year allograft survival (70% vs. 81% respectively, p = 0.02) and death censored allograft survival (74% vs. 87%, respectively; p < 0.01). The risk of disease recurrence was significantly higher in patients with MPGN compared to patients with other glomerulonephritidites (18% vs. 5%; p < 0.01). In patients with MPGN who had allograft loss, patients with MPGN recurrence had a significantly shorter time to allograft loss compared to patients with MPGN who had allograft loss due to any other cause (median time to allograft loss 3.2 years vs. 4.4 years, p < 0.01).ConclusionsCompared with other forms of glomerulonephritis, patients with MPGN experienced comparable rates of survival on dialysis and following kidney transplantation, but significantly higher rates of allograft loss due to disease recurrence.

Rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis in children

Rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis in children is a rare but the most aggressive form of glomerulonephritis. This disease is clinically characterized by acute nephritic syndrome with rapidly progressive renal failure, morphologically it is characterized by the presence of extracapillary cellular or fibro-cellular crescent in more than 50% of glomeruli. Currently the literature describes only a few cases of clinical course of glomerulonephritis in children. The article presents the researchers’ observation of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis type I (anti-BMC+) in a 12-year-old girl. Despite immunosuppressive therapy combined with plasmapheresis, the authors observed the progress of the disease resulting in chronic kidney disease stage V. The child received renal replacement therapy with peritoneal dialysis. The course was complicated by the development of severe hyperparathyroidism.

Long-term outcomes of patients with end-stage kidney disease due to membranous nephropathy: A cohort study using the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry.

BackgroundClinical outcomes of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) secondary to membranous nephropathy (MN) have not been well described. This study aimed to evaluate patient and/or allograft outcomes of dialysis or kidney transplantation in patients with ESKD secondary to MN.Material and methodsAll adult patients with ESKD commencing renal replacement therapy in Australia and New Zealand from January 1998 to December 2010 were extracted retrospectively from ANZDATA registry on 31st December 2013. Outcomes of MN were compared to other causes of ESKD. In a secondary analysis, outcomes of MN were compared to all patients with ESKD due to other forms of glomerulonephritis.ResultsOf 32,788 included patients, 417 (1.3%) had MN. Compared to other causes of ESKD, MN experienced lower mortality on dialysis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.79, 95% CI 0.68–0.92, p = 0.002) and following kidney transplantation (aHR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.97, p = 0.04), had a higher risk of death-censored kidney allograft failure (aHR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.00–2.41, p = 0.05) but comparable risk of overall kidney allograft failure (aHR 1.35, 95% CI 0.91–2.01, p = 0.13). Similar results were obtained using competing-risk regression analyses. MN patients were significantly more likely to receive a kidney transplant (aHR 1.38, 95% CI 1.16–1.63, p<0.001) and to experience primary kidney disease recurrence in the allograft (aHR 4.92, 95% CI 3.02–8.01, p<0.001). Compared to other forms of glomerulonephritis, MN experienced comparable dialysis and transplant patient survival, but higher rates of kidney transplantation, primary renal disease recurrence and death-censored allograft failure.ConclusionMN was associated with superior survival on dialysis and following kidney transplantation compared to patients with other causes of ESKD, and comparable patient survival compared to patients with other forms of glomerulonephritis. However, patients with MN exhibited a higher rate of death-censored allograft loss as a result of primary kidney disease recurrence.

Urinary Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Is a Novel Biomarker That Links Tubulointerstitial Damage to Glomerular Filtration Rates in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) is an immunoglobulin superfamily member strongly expressed on renal tubular epithelia in the urinary tract. Enzymatic cleavage of its ectodomain increases in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and is assumed to contribute to tubulointerstitial lesion formation. Because the cleaved ectodomain fragments are likely to be released into the urine, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for urinary CADM1 was developed using two anti-ectodomain antibodies. Urinary CADM1 concentrations in patients with CKD based on various forms of glomerulonephritis and nephropathy (n = 127) were measured. A total of 44 patients (35%) had elevated CADM1 concentrations over the normal upper limit (362 pg/mL), with a mean of 1,727 pg/mL. Renal biopsy specimens of all patients were pathologically scored for tubulointerstitial lesions using epithelial degeneration, interstitial inflammation, and fibrosis. There were no correlations between urinary CADM1 concentrations and pathological scores or any widely used renal markers, including glomerular filtration rate (GFR), but there was a weak inverse correlation between pathological scores and GFR (R2 = 0.292). Notably, this correlation gradually increased in patients with increasing CADM1 concentrations, and reached a maximum R2 (0.899) at a cutoff of 1,569 pg/mL. The results of this study suggest that urinary CADM1 is a useful marker indicating tubulointerstitial damage from elevated GFR levels in CKD.

Metabolic pathways and immunometabolism in rare kidney diseases

ObjectivesTo characterise renal tissue metabolic pathway gene expression in different forms of glomerulonephritis.MethodsPatients with nephrotic syndrome (NS), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy living donors...

The Spectrum of Histopathological Changes in the Renal Allograft - a 12 Months Protocol Biopsy Study.

INTRODUCTION:Renal transplantation became a routine and successful medical treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease in the last 30 years all over the world. Introduction of Luminex based Single Antigen Beads (SAB) and recent BANFF consensus of histopathological phenotypes of different forms of rejection enables more precise diagnosis and changes the therapeutic approach. The graft biopsies, protocol or cause, indicated, remain a golden diagnostic tool for clinical follow up of kidney transplant recipients (KTR).AIM:The study aimed to analyse the histopathological changes in renal grafts 12 months after the surgery in KTR with satisfactory kidney function.MATERIAL AND METHODS:A 12-month protocol biopsy study was performed in a cohort of 50 Kidney transplant recipients (42 from living and 8 from deceased donors). Usual work-up for suitable donors and recipients, standard surgical procedure, basic principles of peri and postoperative care and follow up were done in all KTR. Sequential quadruple immunosuppression including induction with Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or Interleukin-2R antagonist (IL-2R), and triple drug maintenance therapy with Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI), Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) and Steroids were prescribed to all pts. Different forms of Glomerulonephritis (16), Hypertension (10), End Stage Renal Disease (13), Hereditary Nephropathies (6), Diabetes (3) and Vesicoureteral Reflux (2) were the underlying diseases. All biopsies were performed under ultrasound guidance. The 16 gauge needles with automated “gun” were used to take 2 cores of tissue. The samples were stained with HE, PAS, Trichrome Masson and Silver and reviewed by the same pathologist. A revised and uploaded BANFF 2013 classification in 6 categories (Cat) was used.RESULTS:Out of 48 biopsies, 15 (31%) were considered as normal, 4 (8%), Borderline (BL-Cat 3), 5 (10%) as Interstitial Fibrosis/Tubular Atrophy (IF/TA-Cat 5), 5 (10%) were classified as non-immunological (Cat 6), 2 as a pure antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR-Cat 2) and T-cell Mediated Rejection (TCMR-Cat 4). The remaining 17 samples were classified as a “mixed” rejection: 7 (41%) ABMR + IF/TA, 5 (29%) ABMR + BL + IF/TA, 2 (11%) BL + IF/TA, 1 (5%) ABMR + BL, 1 (5%) ABMR + TCMR and 1 (5%) TCMR + IF/TA. The mean serum creatinine at the time of the biopsy was 126.7 ± 23.4 µmol/L, while GFR-MDRD 63.4 ± 20.7 ml/min, which means that the majority of the findings were subclinical. Among the non-immunological histological findings (Cat 6), 3 cases belonged to CNI toxicity, 1 to BK nephropathy and 1 to recurrence of the primary disease.CONCLUSION:Our 12-month protocol biopsy study revealed the presence of different forms of mixed subclinical rejection. Use of recent BANFF classification and scoring system enables more precise diagnosis and subsequently different approach to the further treatment of the KTR. More correlative long-term studies including Anti HLA antibodies and Endothelial Cell Activation- Associated Transcripts (ENDAT) are needed.

Prolonged fever and involuntary weight loss as manifestations of bacterial endocarditis: A case report

We reported an unusual presentation of prolonged fever and involuntary weight loss in older adult as a manifestation of infective bacterial endocarditis. The patient had pre-existing compensated asymptomatic valvular heart disease without treatment. A positive fecal occult blood test is prompting an investigation of malignancy of gastrointestinal as one of other possible cause of prolonged fever with wasting, evaluation of HIV serostatus shows seronegative. The case fulfilled criteria for definitive infective endocarditis: one major criterion of positive blood culture for Streptococcus mitis, which was one of viridans group streptococci and three minor criteria of fever at least 38°Celsius, immunologic phenomena in the form of glomerulonephritis, and a predisposing heart condition. One course of third-generation cephalosporin successfully cleared the Streptococcus mitis infection proven by culture. Infective endocarditis should be considered as one of the causes of prolonged fever with wasting, especially in cases with the previous history of heart disease.

Successful therapy with mycophenolic acid in a membranous glomerulonephritis due to Kimura disease

Kimura disease (KD) is a rare inflammatory soft tissue disorder of unknown origin most frequent in Asians, the prevalence of which is growing in Western countries. Painless papules and/or nodules with a predilection for the head and the neck region, lymphadenopathies, parotid gland involvement, eosinophilia, and raised IgE levels are parts of its presentation. Renal involvement with various forms of glomerulonephritis, including membranous nephropathy (MN), can occur and is generally associated with a proteinuria that encompasses nephrotic syndrome. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment of KD-associated glomerulonephritis, but steroids withdrawal is often followed by relapsing nephrotic syndrome. Various immunosuppressive agents have been tested to prolong the remission of KD-associated nephrotic syndrome while tapering steroids, but they are only partly effective or associated with significant complications. To the best of our knowledge, we describe here the first case of KD-related membranous glomerulonephritis with a favorable evolution and a sustained remission of 4years under prolonged therapy with mycophenolic acid (MPA). MPA and its active metabolite, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), treatments as supportive therapies to corticosteroids and ACE inhibitors should be further investigated in KD-related membranous nephropathies. .

β1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 is a novel receptor for IgA in human mesangial cells

IgA nephropathy is characterized by mesangial deposition of IgA, mesangial cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix production. Mesangial cells bind IgA, but the identity of all potential receptors involved remains incomplete. The transferrin receptor (CD71) acts as a mesangial cell IgA receptor and its expression is upregulated in many forms of glomerulonephritis, including IgA nephropathy. CD71 is not expressed in healthy glomeruli and blocking CD71 does not completely abrogate mesangial cell IgA binding. Previously we showed that mesangial cells express a receptor that binds the Fc portion of IgA and now report that this receptor is an isoform of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase. A human mesangial cell cDNA library was screened for IgA binding proteins and β-1,4-galactosyltransferase identified. Cell surface expression of the long isoform of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase was shown by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy and confirmed by immunoblotting. Glomerular β-1,4-galactosyltransferase expression was increased in IgA nephropathy. IgA binding and IgA-induced mesangial cell phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase and IL-6 synthesis were inhibited by a panel of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase-specific antibodies, suggesting IgA binds to the catalytic domain of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase. Thus, β-1,4-galactosyltransferase is a constitutively expressed mesangial cell IgA receptor with an important role in both mesangial IgA clearance and the initial response to IgA deposition.

Viral Nephropathies

Viral infections are important causative agents in renal disease and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic criteria for virus-related nephropathy include detailed clinical and laboratory data and tissue molecular analysis. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms include kidney tropism of the virus, induction of abnormal immune complexes, direct cytopathogenic effects, and multiorgan failure. Hepatitis B virus is associated with membranous nephropathy and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis in endemic areas. Hepatitis C virus causes various forms of glomerulonephritis, including cryoglobulinemia-mediated glomerulonephritis. HIV infection is associated with a collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a distinctive disease that mainly affects Africans and African Americans. In the course of HIV infection, other types of immune complex glomerulonephritis may occur. Recent reports indicate a role for parvovirus B19 in idiopathic collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Acute kidney injury occurs in hantavirus and coronavirus-associated severe acute respiratory syndrome. Of particular interest are those viral infections with productive replication in the kidney, which often occur in immunocompromised hosts, such as renal allograft recipients. Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and BK polyomavirus are prominent members of this group causing specific diseases. Renal biopsy followed by appropriate serologic and molecular testing is essential for defining virus-related nephropathies and guiding prognostic and therapeutic evaluation. This review contains 4 figures, 3 tables, and 90 references. Key words: BK polyomavirus, cytomegalovirus, glomerulonephritis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV-associated nephropathy, viral infection

Ablative Therapy in 2016 for Small Renal Masses

The survival rate of kidney graft after kidney transplantation has been improved following the introduction of current immune suppression drugs. However, the risk of recurrence or de novo glomerulonephritis still remains. Most forms of glomerular disease can recur after transplantation [1] but different forms of glomerulonephritis have widely different allograft outcomes. Whereas IgA nephritis recurs in up to one third of transplanted patients, this is not associated with adverse effects on graft survival. In contrast, recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) has an unfavorable prognosis [2] and so early detection and appropriate treatment can be crucial. We are presenting here a patient with primary FSGS who developed acute kidney injury and heavy proteinuria in the first week post-transplant that responded completely to multiple plasmapheresis sessions and four doses of Rituximab.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits in a patient with diabetes mellitus

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin G deposits (PGNMID) is a newly identified and rare form of glomerulonephritis which is characterized by endocapillary proliferative or membranoproliferative with monoclonal deposit stain for IgG and a single light chain. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes who was considered to have PGNMID.

Thyroid dysfunction and kidney disease: An update.

Thyroid hormones influence renal development, kidney hemodynamics, glomerular filtration rate and sodium and water homeostasis. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism affect renal function by direct renal effects as well as systemic hemodynamic, metabolic and cardiovascular effects. Hypothyroidism has been associated with increased serum creatinine and decreased glomerular filtration rate. The reverse effects have been reported in thyrotoxicosis. Most of renal manifestations of thyroid dysfunction are reversible with treatment. Kidney disease may also cause thyroid dysfunction by several mechanisms. Nephrotic syndrome has been associated to changes in serum thyroid hormone concentrations. Different forms of glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial disease may be linked to thyroid derangements. A high prevalence of thyroid hormone alteration has been reported in acute kidney injury. Thyroid dysfunction is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease patients. Subclinical hypothyroidism and low triiodothyronine syndrome are common features in patients with chronic kidney disease. Patients treated by both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and renal transplantation recipients, exhibit thyroid hormone alterations and thyroid disease with higher frequency than that found in the general population. Drugs used in the therapy of thyroid disease may lead to renal complications and, similarly, drugs used in kidney disorders may be associated to thyroid alterations. Lastly, low thyroid hormones, especially low triiodothyronine levels, in patients with chronic kidney disease have been related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Interpretation of the interactions between thyroid and renal function is a challenge for clinicians involved in the treatment of patients with thyroid and kidney disease.

Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis in Children

Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is the most common form of glomerulonephritis in children, continues to be a major concern for pediatricians and nephrologists worldwide. The disease is caused by prior streptococcal infection caused by -hemolytic streptococcus of A group. Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B are considered to be major renotrophic antigens. Clinical findings of the disease can vary from asymptomatic gross hematuria to the full-blown acute nephritic syndrome (edema, gross hematuria, hypertension, renal failure). The main laboratory findings of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis include an abnormal common urine analysis (dysmorphic erythrocytes, varying degrees of proteinuria, red blood cell casts, and segmentonuclear neutrophils), an elevated titer of antibodies to antistreptococcic antigens, and hypocomplementemia. Treatment of patients is mainly supportive and is focused upon the elimination of hypervolemia and its complications (edema, hypertension). In this situation, the most effective agents are loop diuretics and antihypertensive agents. The prognosis in children is generally favourable. The review analyses the current understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Pauci Antibody Anti-GBM Nephritis: A Case Report

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is characterized by autoantibodies directed against the anti-GBM antigen, which is part of the non-collagenous domain of the alpha 3(IV) collagen chain. These antibodies bind to the GBM and most patients show rapid progressive form of glomerulonephritis. The alveolar basement membrane also contain the anti-GBM antigen, and some patients pulmonary haemorrhage

Treating Patients with IgA Nephropathy

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is the most common form of glomerulonephritis, but various aspects of treatment remain controversial. In this study,

Glomerulonephritides

Many forms of glomerulonephritis, even the more common types belong to the so-called rare diseases; however, they are very important, for example with respect to health economics as they often affect young people. An example is immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, which is the most common cause of end stage renal disease in young adults. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the pathogenesis, clinical presentation and therapy of the most common European types of glomerulonephritis with a special focus on the most recently acquired knowledge on IgA nephropathy, membranous glomerulonephritis, minimal change nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Regulation of Lupus Nephritis by Stat3

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder often accompanied by nephritis, causing considerable morbidity and mortality [1,2]. Increased expression of type I Interferon (IFN) and interferon-inducible genes are frequently observed in cells from SLE patients and is associated with disease activity [3]. Activation of the interferon signaling molecules, Stat1 and Stat3, has also been reported in SLE [4,5]. Their activation levels correlated with many forms of glomerulonephritis. The reciprocal activation of these two transcription factors may have a major impact on renal inflammation. To study the role of Stat1 in a lupus model, we induced SLE-like chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in Stat1-KO and in WT mice by intraperitoneal injection of class II-disparate bm12 splenocytes [6]. WT recipients of these alloreactive cells developed anti-dsDNA autoantibodies starting at week 2 as expected, with a decline after week 4. In contrast, Stat1-KO hosts exhibited a prolonged and significant increase of anti-dsDNA autoantibody responses compared to WT mice (week 4 to week 8). Increased autoantibody titers were accompanied by increased proteinuria and mortality in the cGVHD host mice lacking Stat1. Enhanced expression and activation of Stat3 were observed in the glomeruli of Stat1-KO host mice but not WT mice with cGVHD. Interactions between Stat1 and Stat3 thus appear to be crucial in determining the severity of lupus-like disease in the cGVHD model [6].

T cell mediated autoimmune glomerular disease in mice.

Many forms of glomerulonephritis are mediated by autoimmunity. While autoantibodies are often pathogenic, cell-mediated immunity plays an important role in a number of forms of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. This unit describes the induction of cell-mediated autoimmune glomerular disease in mice. One disease model, experimental anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease, features autoreactivity to a well-defined component of type IV collagen found in the GBM, α3(IV)NC1. The other models the cell-mediated effector response in forms of renal vasculitis, where autoantibodies to myeloperoxidase result in systemic neutrophil activation, resulting in their localization to the glomerulus and the subsequent deposition of myeloperoxidase within glomerular capillaries. There, myeloperoxidase acts as a "planted" autoantigen and is recognized by effector autoreactive myeloperoxidase-specific T cells. These models are useful both in defining mechanisms germane to the development of autoimmunity to α3(IV)NC1 and myeloperoxidase, and in dissecting the role of cell-mediated responses in effecting glomerular injury.

Oxidative lesions of DNA in membranous glomerulonephritis associated with the infection with hepatitis B virus

Background The kidneys are known as a target of hepatitis viruses. The renal impairment associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) could be represented by lesions of glomeruli, or by injury of the renal tubules. Membranous nephropathy is the most common form of glomerulonephritis associated with HBV infection. We aimed to develop a prospective study that evaluated the relation between serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxiguanosine (8OHdG) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in patients with membranous glomerulopathy associated with HBV infection.